Help! 1989 Springer Softail Stuck
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Stage I
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 1
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From: Mass
Help! 1989 Springer Softail Stuck
Hi Guys,
I'm at my wits end here and have now narrowed an issue down to a possible stuck or fallen off front piston (I think).
Short story.
Was riding around and saw my left boot covered in oil so cut the trip short. Bike wouldn't start after that. My plan was to start it and narrow down the leak, but the bike just clicked. I went through pretty much everything including installing a new starter. After all that I had myself and one other just try to roll it, but cant get it to turn. It's definitely coming from the front end. Bike didn't lose much oil, but had a good spray coming out on my leg. Regarding the no starting, one friend has suggested the piston head may have come off, but I haven't ventured any further for now. Prefer to throw it out to the forum and hear some thoughts. Hoping it's not seized, but it's beyond my knowledge base now. Thanks. What a nightmare.
I'm at my wits end here and have now narrowed an issue down to a possible stuck or fallen off front piston (I think).
Short story.
Was riding around and saw my left boot covered in oil so cut the trip short. Bike wouldn't start after that. My plan was to start it and narrow down the leak, but the bike just clicked. I went through pretty much everything including installing a new starter. After all that I had myself and one other just try to roll it, but cant get it to turn. It's definitely coming from the front end. Bike didn't lose much oil, but had a good spray coming out on my leg. Regarding the no starting, one friend has suggested the piston head may have come off, but I haven't ventured any further for now. Prefer to throw it out to the forum and hear some thoughts. Hoping it's not seized, but it's beyond my knowledge base now. Thanks. What a nightmare.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 9,238
Likes: 5,784
From: On the Big Blue marble
As we say in engineering - look for horses, not zebras. If its past your skill level, bring it to a pro to diagnose. Trying to start it can make it worse and more damage gets done by peoples dopey friends because theyre experts... Dont worry until someone tells you theres a problem.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,146
Likes: 11,220
From: San Diego, CA
This would be a quick, easy check to see if something is stuck in the engine... Don't force it.... It should push fairly easily with the plugs removed and being in 5th gear...
Depending on what happens, you can them narrow the diagnosis based on your skill set, or you can get a trailer and take it to a pro...
Last edited by hattitude; Jan 4, 2023 at 08:48 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 13,098
Likes: 13,031
From: Texas, USA
As we say in engineering - look for horses, not zebras. If its past your skill level, bring it to a pro to diagnose. Trying to start it can make it worse and more damage gets done by peoples dopey friends because theyre experts... Dont worry until someone tells you theres a problem.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 9,238
Likes: 5,784
From: On the Big Blue marble
Who'da thought, @uncle kebo , we have the exact same saying in medicine when diagnosing something. The most common things happen most commonly so look for horses, not zebras.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,101
Likes: 7,629
From: Poolville
Let's start with what Dan said..
We don't have enough information yet, it could be as much as pressure build up in the primary because he fried his stator and it was coming out the stator plug in the primary getting his foot wet cuz everything got super hot and that's why it only went click click click when he tried to restart it.. There could be many things going on here We need a lot more information..
We don't have enough information yet, it could be as much as pressure build up in the primary because he fried his stator and it was coming out the stator plug in the primary getting his foot wet cuz everything got super hot and that's why it only went click click click when he tried to restart it.. There could be many things going on here We need a lot more information..
Last edited by 98hotrodfatboy; Jan 4, 2023 at 05:36 PM.
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 479
Likes: 319
From: FL winter, northern MI summer
I had that with my Shovehead last summer, it was a blown head gasket right where the oil passage is. Probably not your case, as it was pretty easy to see where ithe oile was coming out at. There are lots of possibilites.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 5,276
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From: central Fl
best thing you can do for yourself now is call someone that KNOWS what they are doing. have them come and pick it up. dont even mess with it if you dont know what you're doing. it could cost you a lot more. 
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